"Blood Moon" or longest total lunar eclipse of the century this Friday

The total eclipse lasted for 1 hour 43 minutes, making it the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century. But they returned disappointed because monsoon clouds spoiled the show, with Delhi like many other parts of north India, missing their date with "the blushing" bride - the moon which turned red.

The period of complete eclipse - known as "totality", when the moon appears darkest - will last from 1930 to 2113 GMT.

The next total lunar eclipse which will be visible in the United Kingdom is on July 27, 2018.

The full moon will begin to darken as it enters the Earth's shadow at 7.15pm, with the total eclipse beginning at 9.30pm.

"The earth's atmosphere then turns the light red in the same way that the sun appears when it is going down", Prof Fabian said. "In the middle of a lunar eclipse it can look as if a red planet has taken up residence near the Earth - they are both eerie and lovely and I'll certainly be looking out for it!"

In a special treat, Mars is also at its closest approach to Earth this week since 2003, making it appear bigger and brighter.

The phenomenon dubbed as the "super blue blood moon" was last witnessed in 1866.

Dr Gregory Brown, of the Royal Observatory Greenwich, explained how the rising full moon changed from shining silver to deep blood red during the eclipse.

The phenomenon is caused because the earth blocks all direct sunlight from reaching the moon.

While viewers in New South Wales and Queensland lost sight of the moon towards the end of the eclipse, those in Western Australia saw the whole spectacle, and even watched as the moon emerged from the eclipse.

Excited skywatchers on social media shared photos of the bright planet just to the right of the moon.

FULL moons and lunar eclipses have always been associated with various legends, myths and dark apocalyptic theories.

Unlike a solar Eclipse when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, blocking the sunlight, the moon is not "dark" during the blackout, and instead becomes blood-red. Furthermore, the Moon will be at apogee - farthest from the Earth in its orbit, on July 27 and will be moving at a slower speed in its orbit. "This does not herald the apocalypse: seeing a lunar eclipse and Mars in the sky is something people should enjoy rather than worry about".

Thousands of Australians rose in the pre-dawn twilight, braving the winter chill on Saturday to marvel at a spectacular celestial display - a glowing red moon and a shimmering Mars.

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